Caspase-8h and Caspase-8i-polypeptides

Abstract

The present invention relates to the discovery and characterization of two novel forms of Caspase-8. The first Caspase-8 of the invention, Caspase-8h, encodes a 220 amino acid polypeptide which includes two FADD death effector domains. The second caspase of the invention, Caspase-8i, encodes an 81 amino acid polypeptide having one FADD death effector domain. The invention encompasses nucleic acid molecules encoding Caspase-8h and Caspase-8i, vectors containing these nucleic acid molecules, cells harboring recombinant DNA encoding Caspase-8h and/or Caspase-8i, host fusion proteins which include Caspase-8h and/or Caspase-8i, transgenic animals which express Caspase-8h and/or Caspase-8i, therapeutic methods, purified Casapase-8h, purified Casapase-8i, therapeutic compounds and methods employing Caspase-8h and Caspase-8i, and screening methods employing Caspase-8h and Caspase-8i.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A substantially pure polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
       2. A fusion polypeptide comprising a first amino acid sequence and a second amino acid sequence, the first amino acid sequence consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
       3. A substantially pure polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA insert of plasmid cp81 deposited with the ATCC® as Accession Number 97877. 
     
     
       4. A substantially pure polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
       5. A fusion polypeptide comprising a first amino acid sequence and a second amino acid sequence, the first amino acid sequence consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
       6. A substantially pure polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA insert of plasmid cp220 deposited with the ATCC® as Accession Number 97878.